[Teaching Assistantship 'stipends' = NOT financial aid?]

Hey all,

 

I know this is a question for my school, but its Fin-Aid office hasn't been particularly competent-seeming when I've called them about other questions.

 

I'll have a teaching assistantship in my program, which includes a tuition waiver and stipend.  My duties as part of this TA-ship will include grading the first year, then leading discussion sections, etc. - typical stuff.

 

Obviously the tuition waiver is counted as financial aid that I'm receiving.  It's reported to the Financial Aid office and decreases the amount of student loans I'm able to take out.

 

Now, I had myself under the impression that the TA-ship stipend was also customarily counted as financial aid (as it would be if I was receiving a fellowship instead of a TA-ship).  But I realize now that since the stipend is payment for work performed, it's almost certainly going to be counted as wages, and so NOT financial aid - so that my stipend amount would not decrease the amount of student loans I can take out.

 

Sound right?

[Florida State 2013]

thanks both!

 

no other new noles?

[Tallahassee, FL]

great stuff, mary - thanks!

[Philosophy Journal Ranking]

http://leiterreports.typepad.com/blog/2012/04/the-top-20-general-philosophy-journals.html

[Did you go from a BA or MA to PhD? Is an MA becoming a PhD prerequisite?]

i would guess that at least 65-70% of students entering leiter top 50 PhD programs overall are coming with a BA only, but that that number is falling.

[So, where are you going this fall?]

I may well be, though it remains to be seen. Sadly, the whole process with them (granted at the college level not the department level) left me with a sour taste. But, on the flip side, can't look a gift-horse!

 

Sorry, rambled; congratulations! 

 

what happened, if i may ask?

[So, where are you going this fall?]

i'm headed to Florida State.  holla if you're joining me.

[Florida State 2013]

I'm headed to Tallahassee in August.  Who else?

 

Lived in Tampa a few months, but never been to Tallahassee.  No idea about the neighborhoods, etc.  Would appreciate any apartment recommendations!  (Need a place that allows cats, which makes things tougher.)

[University of New Mexico (Albuquerque) Fall 2013]

better call saul.

[University of Florida Acceptances]

FYI - all TAs at UF receive fully subsidized health insurance, thanks to the efforts of the Graduate Assistants United union.

[University of Florida Acceptances]

Any recommendations for apartment complexes to check out or avoid?  I'll likely be attending UF as a Philosophy grad student.

[University of Florida 2013]

Thanks!  What'd you think of what you saw of Griffin-Floyd Hall?  It's home to Philosophy in addition to Statistics, so it's where I'd be.

[2013 Applicants (Philosophy)]

I now have a problem, but it is a good problem to have. GSU or Brandeis? We shall see, we shall see.

 

by my math, it would take 35-40k or more in loans to afford brandeis and the boston cost of living, even with the two scholarships and two or three TAs.  just can't justify that compared to the full tuition and stipends offered elsewhere.  as good as brandeis's placement is over the last year or two, it's not head and shoulders above other leading MA programs.

[University of Florida 2013]

Very cool.  Any recommendations for places/neighborhoods to live?  I heard that with the bus system, you can pretty much pick any direction.  Seem to be plenty of not so great apartment complexes, though.

[University of Florida 2013]

Accepted into a program at UF, and almost certain to accept.  Never been to Gainesville; would like to see others' thoughts on the city and campus, whether they're new to the area or current students/alums, etc.